Man Of Action (Hayden Barnes) is healthier and happier with the drop in temperature in Brisbane. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Action moves to Redcliffe on Thursday and he’s got his old bounce back, says Al
By Barry Lichter • 31 March 2021
Trainer Al Barnes heads off to Redcliffe on Thursday afternoon with Man Of Action, fully expecting the horse to start turning his form around.
Barnes only has to look at the four-year-old to know he’s ready to put an end to his nine-race streak out of the money.
“We’re really happy with him now - he was sour and dull and horrible in the coat and now he’s happy and bright and full of energy and his coat is dark.”
Man Of Action’s form fell away last December when he was tired at the end of long campaign and when Barnes brought him back in March he really struggled to cope with the very hot and humid conditions.
But with the very wet weather in Queensland has come a drop in temperature and Barnes says the horse is on the way back.
“He might have run only sixth last start but Hayden was very happy with him. He said he felt like a completely different horse and he even paced a lot better.”
Taken back from a wide draw, Man Of Action made up good ground from well back to run 22 metres behind winner Our Ridgy Didge.
With no racing at Albion Park on Good Friday, Barnes didn’t want the horse to miss a run, hence his decision to race at the turning Redcliffe saucer.
“It’s an even Redcliffe field but he should be competitive.
“We’ll give him confidence and let him run on again but I still expect him to run a real nice race and I think he can earn a decent cheque.
“But whatever he does, he will improve on and be ready to go next time.”
Man Of Action races at 6.47pm at Albion Park on Thursday.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
